About Me
I am a clinical mental health counselor in the Raleigh/Durham area specializing in (but not limited to) depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and that strange “life is uncomfortable right now” feeling.
Path to My Career
Counseling is a later-in-life career for me after having been an editor for a couple of decades. I decided to pursue counseling after the death of my 15-year-old son. I know that’s a big piece of information to just toss into a sentence, but I’m here for honesty and transparency. My son died in 2015 due to complications following a bone marrow transplant. Needless to say, I was completely undone and rearranged--I didn’t recognize my life anymore.
A few months after his death, I lay in bed staring out the window and couldn’t think of a single reason to get up. I had gotten to the point of being angry at the sun for having the audacity to rise every morning. That day, I dragged myself out of bed and decided to shift everything. I would be a person that people could talk to about what I was feeling—sadness, lostness, helplessness, brokenness, and some inexplicable grudge against the sun for still rising. I found the degree program for mental health counseling at NC State, signed up, and here I am, a fully licensed counselor.
Building Relationships
I specialize in working with depression, anxiety, trauma, and of course grief. Additionally, I have developed a true appreciation for working with adolescents. Having seen some of my clients throughout their high school years, it is a tremendous privilege to have that first virtual session in which they proudly show me their college dorm rooms. I deeply honor all of my therapeutic relationships as changes happen and life evolves.
My Approach
My approach is person-centered and often employs facets of existential theory, most notably self-awareness. Daily, we have limitless news about the world and specifics about what strangers are (posting about) eating for lunch. It’s easy to lose oneself in the whole equation of being alive. My therapeutic approach is to come back to your core self and build on that amazing human being sitting across from me.
My Office
I offer both in-person and virtual sessions Monday - Friday from 11:00am to 6:00pm. My office is located between Raleigh and Cary, so a fairly convenient spot for most folks in the Triangle area. All virtual sessions, paperwork, and payments are managed through Simple Practice, which is a HIPAA-compliant platform.
Creating an inviting and comfortable space for sessions is very important to me. I want you to be comfortable and feel welcome.
Waiting Room
Therapy Room